"Sorry. Your plane is delayed two hours." Time flew. A man climbed onto the baggage belt at the check in counter, unhooked the metal sign naming one airline, and hung up the name of our air carrier. The representative appeared again, generously offering us lunch vouchers at the Crane Cafeteria, the one eatery at the Entebbe gate.
We ate roast chicken with chapati flatbread and savored the last bite of baked banana matoke, when another representative approached. "Sorry. The plane is here, but we have to wait for better weather."
An hour later, the pelting rain stopped, and we trooped to the bus behind the only other passengers - two newlyweds from Calgary, Canada on their way to gorilla trekking. Climbing five steps, I ducked, and entered the cabin. As instructed, I stowed my jacket behind the curtain and helped myself to inflight service - a basket of eucalyptus candy on the back seat and a case of bottled water on the floor. Our pilot and co-pilot introduced themselves and we taxied out to the runway. The engine revved, then slowed. "Sorry. We're having trouble with our navigational computer."
Pulling around to our starting point, we deplaned and waited for the bus to take us back to the terminal. Our pilot yelled, "I got it going! We have four computers onboard and one of the others worked!"
Ed and I peered out the window, high above dirt roads that curved like orange ribbons over green hillsides. Fog thickened, nothing could be seen. Then brilliant equatorial sunshine pierced the cloud startling us with its intensity.
Touchdown! Our skilled pilot bounced along the grassy field.
Fr. Peter and Augustine waved from behind the flagpole where the yellow, red, and black Ugandan colors snapped sharply in the wind. "Welcome to your home," they called as we hurried to them. Augustine tossed our bags in the back of the truck. Joining hands, we thanked the Lord singing, "We are together again, just praising the Lord..." Let the mission begin!
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